A New Desktop PC - suggestions?

We are long time users of Terra Model, since from back in the Plus 3 days. We upgraded to Windows 7 in 2010. No problems with TM.
By the way I agree with you about Trimble. I don't think it's so much hostility but ignorance. I don't think they realize what a software gem it is. I still think it's the best surveying software out there but will soon disappear because of Trimble's neglect and indifference.
I have no opinion about the desktop configuration, except that I would get a laptop.

4 MB?

You are going to need at least 8 mb ram. I would go for 16mb and yes, a DVD burner. I would tell the person building the computer to make it a business class machine. They are more upgradeable for a longer time. Get all the machine you can afford. It will be money well spent.;-)

I haven't used a 3.5 " floppy in years ... is there still a use for it? or a serial port ...all USB around here and jump drives for moving data.

Don't forget to download the latest Trumpet Winsock! 🙂

I think you guys are talking GB of RAM rather than MB?

A few months ago I purchased a very fast, hopped up new computer running Win7, I am not using Terramodel (I use C&G running inside Autocad 2004). I was having so much trouble trying to get everything to run, especially my plotters and printers, that I finally gave up, and traded my computer for the kids nice Win XP machine. I am happy, they are happy. I figure I will eventually end up with it back.

My suggestions would be to stick with an Intel i5 or i7 processor. Probably also want to go with a Nvidia Geforce graphics card equivalent to 1GB or more. You should talk to whoever is building it for you to explain the advantages of a smaller solid state drive at least for the Operating System.

> 4 MB ram
go with 16GB... windows uses lots of resources, ram is cheap
> 2 T HD
get dual hard drives, with second drive dedicated to Backup (automated)
if you need a ton of storage, use external USB.
> 3.5” floppy
yup, maybe. Have not had a floppy for years but maybe you have old floppys that you need to backup and archive.
> Read-write CD
> DVD too?
most modern drives are DVD/CD combo. yes, read write for shipping out is handy, but I use USB drives for that, they are cheap and fast... and can be reused
> Serial port
needed? for what?
> Parallel port
needed? for what?
> Good sound card
most modern mother boards have good sound included, no need for a separate sound card
> Windows 7 – which version?
basic home version is fine unless you have a special need... upgrade is simple, just $ required
>
> What would you suggest?
consider a dual boot system with Linux for backup and security tools... zero cost, and much faster.

> My suggestions would be to stick with an Intel i5 or i7 processor. Probably also want to go with a Nvidia Geforce graphics card equivalent to 1GB or more. You should talk to whoever is building it for you to explain the advantages of a smaller solid state drive at least for the Operating System.

for the last year or so I have using a Sager NP8170 laptop as my main computer, more powerful that most desktops and easily repairable and upgradeable with common tools... spendy but worth it:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php

> You are going to need at least 8 mb ram....
Only if using the 64bit system. Waste of money on 32bit.

4MB ram?

8gb min go for 16gb if possible

New motherboards need it cause these new web pages are only going to get bigger, same for these new Win 7 & 8 based programs

They really eat up memory space with bells and whistles

At least 1gb video card for the same reasons

I don't think you will find any 3.5 floppy disk to buy cause they have stopped making them, if you have them, it is time to transfer the data to another media

Don't skimp on inside fans and cooling vents for the CPU.

Dust filters for all the induction vents are a plus.

As for the ports, if you have a need for them then get them

B-)

> Don't forget to download the latest Trumpet Winsock! 🙂
>
> I think you guys are talking GB of RAM rather than MB?

Trumpet Winsock!! Too funny. I wonder how many here even knew/know what that was. Might as well "upgrade" to Windows 3.3 (a.k.a. Windows For Workgroups). 🙂

I was also wondering how long it would take before someone else caught that he probably meant Gig instead of Meg. If you are going to run Win7, I would recommend AT LEAST 8 Gig.

Forget the parallel port for sure. However he might need the serial for data collector connectivity. Some have had problem the serial-USB connections.
E

> > 3.5” floppy
> yup, maybe. Have not had a floppy for years but maybe you have old floppys that you need to backup and archive.

You can also buy a USB external floppy drive, available at Fry's or online pretty cheap. I just bought a Memorex brand for about 15 bucks.
I don't think I would ever buy one built-in again at this point.

> Forget the parallel port for sure.

There are still lots of large-format printers that use a parallel connection. I use one with my HP 450C, so I put a parallel card into my workstation to accommodate it.

I use TM on win 7, but I believe when I upgraded to Win XP from 2000 I had to get a new usb key. If you are coming from a windows version before XP or vista I would give them a call

Go ahead and get a R/W CD and a separate R/W DVD. Having 2 can be handy.

Personally, I would also get a dual monitor setup and get large screens somewhere around the 30" neighbor.

A wireless mouse can be nice so as to get at least 1 cord out of the way. Plus you can move it around where ever you want. I suppose the same could be said for wireless printers but I don't have any experience with those.

This is nit but be sure it is covered. Be sure the USB ports are at least USB 2.0
Any recent or new motherboard should already have them. I recently got a device to plug in a VHS player to USB and required 2.0 or better. My machine supposedly had them but the system information didn't say so. It took a BIOS and firmware upgrade for them to recognized as such.
E

I use Win 7 in XP mode to run my older software. Works great.

OK - you got me. 4 MB ram should have been 4 GB; glad some had a laugh at my expense. In my defense, look at the time of the original post ....

I need the serial port to send data to and from my Geodimeter, which is still doing what is does very well.

The parallel port is for the hardware locks (dongles) for Terramodel and StarNet, although I suppose I could get new USB locks, but was trying to eliminate that cost, not being current with support.

Those that are using Terramodel and StarNet - any problems with with old parallel port locks in XP emulation mode on a Win7 machine?

RE: 3.5" drive - I have hundreds and hundreds of 3.5" floppies going back to the early 90's, up to about 2004 or so when I started backing up on CDs. So far, and I know I am on borrowed time, knock on wood, I have not had problems reading them. Yes, I know, it is time to transfer them to other media. Thought it would be easiest with a faster, larger machine, hence the need for another 3.5" drive.

Can someone explain the differance between a 32 and 64 bit computer, and why?

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Please feel free to add more, if you have something to add. I appreciate the help.

Ken

We have (sadly) have records back to the early 90's on 3.5" floppies in the job files. They're a little scary to use, but haven't (knock on wood) ran into any that have gone bad...and yes, you can still find geeks that install the drives into newer machines.

We are down to just one machine that we can upload/ download points to a HP48. When that one goes I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and get a cable to run our Set4 from one of the DCs..